The Beshear-Coleman administration has developed a solid, aggressive plan to improve the juvenile justice system and increase retention and recruitment of security personnel at Department of Juvenile Justice facilities.
In February, Governor Andy Beshear raised detention center youth workers’ salaries to a minimum of $50,000 annually and reclassified the position title to correctional officer.
Thursday, the Department of Juvenile Justice announced that 59 individuals have graduated the training academy and reported to their assigned facility. Another 22 individuals began the training academy on February 20 and are expected to graduate March 17.
Department of Juvenile Justice’s training academy includes six-weeks, 128 hours of instruction focused on a variety of topics including cultural diversity/implicit bias, mental health training, crisis prevention, de-escalation techniques, conflict resolution, riot and hostage situations, searches and contraband, report of abuse and neglect, fire safety, suicide prevention, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, report writing and observation skills, health services protocols, behavior management and legal issues. The academy also includes two weeks of on-the-job training.
On February 9, the Governor announced that due to critical staffing issues at the Department of Juvenile Justice, Kentucky State Police had assigned two uniformed troopers 24 hours a day, seven days a week to Adair, Fayette and Warren Juvenile Detention Centers, and more than 30 correctional officers and probation and parole officers from the Department of Corrections have volunteered to assist Campbell Juvenile Detention Center until it is fully staffed.
As the Governor and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey have previously said, robust and effective changes to the juvenile justice system require policy, budgetary and legislative action. The administration presented its juvenile justice legislative request to the General Assembly on February 14. On Wednesday, House Bill 591 encompassing the statutory changes required to allow juveniles to qualify for bail and removing status offenders and Class B misdemeanants from detention, even for a violation of court orders, and the budgetary requests were filed by Representative Derrick Graham of Franklin. Once the General Assembly passes HB 591, Department of Juvenile Justice facilities will be far safer for youth and staff.
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